For their summer vacation, Roger and Bette Zrimsek of Pleasant Hills indulged their fondness for sleek sports cars by visiting the National Corvette Restorers Society's Convention in Charlotte, N.C.

Rick Busby, 72, of Mount Oliver, a professional clown and retiree, (whom we profile on page 2 in our Resume feature today) opted for two days at nearby Kennywood Park riding the "milder rides," such as the merry-go-round and Ferris wheel.

It was a mixed bag of destinations when it came to finding answers to the obligatory grammar-school essay question of "How did you spend your summer vacation?" for South Hills residents in this hot summer of a continuing recession.

Bob Wawrzeniak, for one, stayed put.

"Afternoons, I worked at the bar I've owned and operated for 54 years. Evenings, I relaxed at home -- it's a great life," said Mr. Wawrzeniak, 79, of Glassport.

Also intentionally grounded was retired state Department of Transportation supervisor Richie Verscharen, 62, of Brentwood.

He blamed the economy and diminishing retirement funds.

For the first time, he did not visit family in South Carolina in the summer.

"I did not want to spend the money," he said.

Funds were also a factor in Eddie McCorvey's decision to forgo a vacation. He was saving for his Aug. 28 wedding.

"I just went to car cruises all summer," said the North Strabane man, 26, who teaches at Clairton High School.

For Meghan Graham, 24, of Bethel Park, the summer was spent mostly working.

"But I managed a one-week trip to Virginia Beach with my family," said Ms. Graham, an urgent care center manager.

Political consultant Bob Johnson, 48, who relocated to Bethel Park to work on the Tom Corbett gubernatorial campaign, was so busy on fall campaigns that he spared only two days for fun in the sun at Wrightsville Beach, N.C.

Jim Horvath, 62, of North Strabane also enjoyed the outdoors -- fishing and target shooting -- with his brother from Florida, who visited here for two months.

"It was a great vacation at home," said the retired schoolteacher.

Craig Scott, 52, of North Strabane spent a week in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where his daughters played in a softball tournament.

"I walked on the beach. But mostly, we watched games," said the maintenance worker at CentiMark Corp.

Chuck Yochum, 66, said his wife, Mary, nixed a vacation in favor of redoing the inside of their Bethel Park home.

After painting and carpeting, the couple enjoyed the summer at car cruises and flea markets.

"But, next year, she warned, 'We're going to Hawaii,' " Mr. Yochum reported.

He is a retired designer of recycling equipment.

Fran Lippert, 75, of Whitehall also tackled housework, but at his cottage in Pymatuning State Park.

"Anytime you have a house, it's work. I'm a workaholic, so I enjoy it," said the retired firefighter.

But the traditional definition of summer vacation was not lost on young people, such as Angela Singler, 18, of Mt. Lebanon, and friend Carley Seifert, 20, of Pleasant Hills, who spent a month in Aruba.

"We swam, spent time in the sun and shopped," said Ms. Singler, a nursing student.

"We saved money for years for this," said Ms. Seifert, a beauty school student. "It was worth it."

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